Barrel Rest

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a device for supporting the weight of a gun, in a vertical orientation, with the barrel end of the gun facing the ground. The device comprises a platform large enough to fully engage the barrel end of a rifle or shotgun, and an outer lip fully encompassing the platform to prevent the gun barrel from slipping off the platform edge. In addition, the device has a clip for engaging an ankle strap, which secures the device to the exterior of the wearer&#39;s footwear and ankle. With the present invention, a sportsman may safely place the weight of a rifle or shotgun to his or her foot without sacrificing ready access to the weapon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

The field of the present invention is in weapon supports for use by sportsmen. More specifically, the field of the present invention is in gun muzzle rests that are worn on the foot of a shooter at skeet and released bird shooting meets.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known that target shooters and hunters often must carry and hold their rifles or shotguns for long periods of time while waiting their turn to shoot or waiting for game. Rifles and shot guns often include means for attaching a shoulder strap for carrying. However, this method of carrying a weapon is not advisable in instances where a shooter must keep a weapon at the ready. For safety, a gun must be pointed away from people, preferably toward the ground. However a gun barrel must be kept off of the ground, as debris could get into or damage the barrel.

A number of attempts are shown in the prior art for addressing the aforementioned problem. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,887 to Hockley provides a gun rest mounted on the foot of the wearer. The platform of the Hockley device is secured to the top of the wearer's footwear, and supports a long gun by engaging the barrel end. This is a fundamentally unsafe construction as a misfire could lead to the wearer shooting his or her foot.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,678 to Royer provides a gun rest that is worn on the foot of the user. The 678 device supports the weight of the gun and keeps the focus of the barrel away from the wearer's foot. However, the platform of Royers device does not provide an engaging member that prevents the muzzle of a weapon from sliding horizontally off of the support surface and onto the ground. Moreover, the strap does not engage wearer in a manner that is easy to install or to keep the platform secured to the foot.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,402 to Rogers provides holster for carrying a weapon at the ankle. The 402 device does hold a weapon in a downward orientation. However, the 402 device is not meant for weapons larger than a handgun.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,246 to Andersson provides a device for supporting the weight of a pair of skis on the side of a ski boot. Anderson's device engages the wearer at the ankle, however, it is designed to engage a hard surface, such as a ski boot and provides no proper securing mechanism for a softer footwear or exposed ankle.

What is needed is a device for supporting the weight of a rifle while keeping the barrel end oriented downward and away from the foot. It should protect the muzzle from inadvertent contact with the ground without securing the rifle or shotgun, as hunters and target shooters need to keep weapons ready for firing without first having to free them. Lastly the device should be easily and stably mounted to a variety of footwear ranging from low cut shoes to high cut boots.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a rest for supporting the weight of a gun in a vertical orientation. The rest holds the barrel end of the gun facing the ground surface, while transferring the weight of the gun to a sportsman's foot. The device comprises a platform large enough to fully engage the barrel end of a rifle or shotgun, and one or more protrusions forming an outer lip, which encompasses the platform to prevent the gun barrel from slipping off the platform edge. In addition, the device has a clip for engaging the top edge of a low cut footwear. When attached to the low cut footwear with the clip, the device is being used in footwear attachment mode. If the sportsman is wearing high cut boots, the present invention can be used in strap attachment mode. In this mode, the same clip slips easily over an upper strap that is fastened around the ankle of the sportsman wearing high cut boots. An optional bottom strap is available to further stabilize the platform when either the low cut footwear or the high cut boot is worn. The device allows a sportsman to safely redistribute the weight of a rifle or shotgun so that he or she need only balance the weapon upright while allowing the platform to hold weight. Moreover, the device contains a rest cushion for providing an anti-slip surface for the muzzle.

It is a first object of the present invention is to provide a gun barrel rest apparatus that enables a sportsman to comfortably support the weight of a gun near the foot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gun barrel rest apparatus that is safe for the sportsman.

Another objective is to provide a gun barrel rest that is easy to install on a variety of footwear ranging from a low cut shoe to a tall boot,

Yet another object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel rest apparatus that allows water to move away from muzzle of the gun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel rest apparatus that is both strong and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the present invention is provide a gun barrel rest apparatus that will keep the gun barrel clean and dry.

Yet another object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel rest apparatus that permits ready access to the gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated through consideration of the accompanying drawings and the detailed description following, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a user utilizing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a-b show the present invention in strap attachment mode. FIG. 3 a is a bottom perspective view. FIG. 3 b is a sectional view.

FIG. 4 a-c show the present invention in footwear attachment mode. FIG. 4 a is a top perspective view, FIG. 4 b is a bottom perspective view, and FIG. 4 c is a sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention is show in its preferred embodiment. A sportsman 11, or user, is shown wearing a footwear 13 on a foot 12. The footwear can be of the type that partially or completely covers an ankle 19, or lower leg. The sportsman 11 attaches a rest 1, or elongate object supporting device, to the foot 12. A weapon 21, or elongate object, is shown with a muzzle 22, or lower extremity of the elongate object. The weapon 21 is supported by rest 1 by placing the muzzle 22 of the weapon 21 onto the rest 1. In FIG. 1, the muzzle 22 is approximately 1 inch above a ground surface 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2 a perspective view of the rest 1 is shown. The rest has a platform 8, or support surface, which provides the contact surface for the muzzle 22. The platform 8 has one or more sidewall 2, or engaging member, extending vertically from the platform 8. An ankle side wall 9 is attached to one side of the platform 8. The ankle side wall 9 has a clip 6, or attachment device, affixed to the top.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a-b, the present invention is shown the strap attachment mode. The rest 1 is attached over a high cut boot 17. The platform 8 makes contact with the muzzle 22, while the sidewall 2 stops the muzzle 22 from sliding off of the platform 8. The platform 8 has one or more aperture 3 which are used for permitting rain water to drain from the platform 8. The platform 8 has a rest cushion 4, or resilient surface, composed of elastic material for providing an anti-slip surface for the muzzle 22. For releasable attachment to the high cut boot 17, an ankle strap 5 wraps around the high cut boot 17 and through the clip 6. The clip 6 extends to the platform 8. A lower strap 7 extends through one or more aperture 3 and connects to ankle strap 5 on the opposing side of the high cut boot 17.

Referring now to FIG. 4 a-c, the present invention is shown in the footwear attachment mode. A low cut footwear 16 is shown with a footwear upper 15 and an opening for the ankle 18. The rest 1 is attached to a low cut footwear 16. For releasable attachment to the low cut footwear 16, the clip 6 slides over the footwear upper 15.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and a carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 

1. A supporting device for support of an elongate object that is being held in an essentially vertical position by a user comprising: a platform that is located on a lower leg of the user for carrying a weight of the elongate object, the platform is oriented in an essentially horizontal plane for support of a lower extremity of the elongate object, a wall that extends from the platform, an attachment device extending from the wall at an elevation that is higher than an elevation of the platform for attaching the supporting device to the lower leg of the user.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: one or more engaging members that prevent the lower extremity of the elongate object from sliding off of the platform.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein: the platform is adapted for attachment of a lower strap to add stability.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein: the attachment device is a clip.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein: The clip attaches to an opening for an ankle at the top of a footwear.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein: The clip attaches over an upper strap worn on a footwear in the area of an ankle.
 7. The device of claim 4, wherein: The clip is adapted to either attach to an opening for an ankle at the top of a low cut footwear or over a strap worn in the area of the ankle of a high cut boot.
 8. Method of installing an elongate object supporting device on the footwear of a user comprising the steps: Holding the supporting device in one hand, Sliding the clip at the top of the supporting device between the ankle and the support surface, Placing the lower extremity of the elongate object on the supporting device, Supporting the elongate object with the platform, wherein the support surface is the top of the ankle opening of a shoe.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step: wherein the support surface is a strap tied around a boot.
 10. A device for the support of a weapon on a lower leg of a sportsman comprising: a platform for supporting a muzzle of the weapon, an attachment device for attaching the platform to the lower leg of the sportsman, wherein the weapon when held in a hand of a standing sportsman with the muzzle resting on the platform will be aimed away from a foot of the standing sportsman.
 11. The device of claim 10, further comprising: an engaging member that prevents the muzzle of the weapon from sliding horizontally off of the platform.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein: the attachment device is located at the top of the device.
 13. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 10, further comprising wherein: the platform is adapted for attachment of a lower strap to add stability.
 14. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 10, wherein: the platform is adapted to allow rain water to drain though to a ground.
 15. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 10, wherein: the platform is adapted to support the muzzle of the weapon on a resilient surface, the muzzle of the weapon is protected from contacting any metal components of the platform or a clip.
 16. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 10, wherein: the attachment device is a clip.
 17. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 16, wherein: The clip attaches to an opening for an ankle at the top of a footwear.
 18. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 16, wherein: The clip attaches over a strap worn on a footwear in the area of an ankle.
 19. The device for the support of a weapon of claim 16, wherein: The clip is adapted to either attach to an opening for an ankle at the top of a low cut footwear or over a strap worn in the area of the ankle of high cut boots.
 20. Method of installing an supporting device for support of an elongate object the supporting device having a platform, an engaging member and a clip that attaches to a opening for a ankle at the top of a footwear of a user comprising the steps: Holding the supporting device in one hand, Sliding the clip between the ankle and the support surface, Placing the lower extremity of the elongate object on the supporting device, Supporting the elongate object with the platform. 